Boatyards are a place for vessels, like yachts and cabin cruisers, to be safely stored, maintained, repaired and built. They also frequently have these vessels for sale. These yards are important to be familiar with if you own a water vessel or if you plan on purchasing one. Here are some important terms regarding these areas.

Marina – This is a basin or dock that has moorings for small sailing and motorized fishing boats. This differs from a port in that it only handles small vessels and not large cargo freighters.

Cleat – This is a metal unit that projects out on two sides, allowing a rope or cable from a vessel to fasten around it quickly.

Decking – This is the material that forms the upper part of a dock. It is constructed from wood, steel or concrete.

Pier – This is a device that provides a safe landing place for ships, pontoons, yachts and sailing vessels. It extends out into water and forms a harbor.

Slip – This is essentially a parking spot for the vessel. It usually has three enclosed sides and provides a safe area for long term docking. These are often put up for sale or rent throughout the year by the marina.

Winch – This is a system for pulling or hauling vessels or hoisting equipment. This uses motor-powered drums to coil the cable or chain and is often used in towing.

Floating Dock – This floats on water, giving it the ability to rise up to keep a vessel dry, or be submerged to permit the entry of the ship.

Mooring – This is a permanent anchoring system that is composed of a chain, cable or rope that is used by a vessel to secure itself in one place.

If you're looking for a place to store your boat for a long or short period of time, try looking through our directory. With our association, you can find the professional storage services you're looking for.

A boat yard offers a myriad of functions, from building new yachts to providing dock and harbor services for those who need to store their powerboats and pontoons when not in use. Whether you are looking for a place to build your own customized fishing boat for deep sea fishing or repair your sailboat, a boat yard is the place to go. If you want to get the most from your own commercial boat yard experience, it is first important to understand the many services these yards provide and then get tips to find boat yard services and storage for the lowest price.
Boat yards typically offer new and used boats for rental or for sale. You can also find ramps and lifts at these commercial marine businesses. Boat yards also offer docks and harbors for ship storage during the season or winter storage to protect your marine vessel from the sea elements when it is not being used. Most of these yards also offer repair service on all types of fresh water and salt water marine vessels, as well as salvage parts so you can get what you need to repair your own watercraft if that's what you prefer.
Some boat yards also offer classes to help new boat owners learn to operate a marine vessel safely. They may provide customized services depending on the area, such as canals and moorings to dock freight vessels, yachts and house boats and tailored winter storage for other types of charters. Some even offer a gas dock to accommodate powerboats. Look at online directory listings or ask for boat yard recommendations to help you decide which yard will meet your needs.